TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) announced his candidacy for the Kuomintang, Taiwan's main opposition party, chairmanship Tuesday (Sept. 17), challenging former cabinet minister Hsu Kuo-yung's (徐國勇) comments about Taiwan's political status in a Facebook post. Hau questioned whether Hsu, who dismissed the significance of Retrocession Day (光復節) slated on Oct. 25, served as a minister in the Japanese colonial empire.
Hau criticized Hsu's support for Taiwan's "undetermined status" as disappointing and angering. He emphasized the Republic of China has conducted multiple democratic elections in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Hau referenced the Cairo Declaration, claiming it clearly states Taiwan and Penghu should return to the Republic of China after World War II, dismissing undetermined status as unacceptable U.S. strategy against China.
Hau stressed that Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu belong to 23.3 million Taiwanese people. He called suggestions of Taiwan's undetermined status a threat, urging President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to clarify his position. Hau questioned whether Hsu's remarks threaten national security and demanded Lai express agreement or disagreement with Hsu's stance.
Former National Taiwan University (NTU, 台灣大學) President Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) also criticized Hsu's comments, labeling those who deny Taiwan's retrocession as lacking national identity. Kuan stated Republic of China officials endorsing the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) narrative that Taiwan's status remains undetermined lose their stance. He questioned the validity of presidential and Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, elections if Taiwan's status remains unresolved. ◼